Indonesia's Human Rights Ministry Urges Halt to Military Violence in Papua
Reporter
November 19, 2025 | 10:23 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Ministry of Law and Human Rights has called for an immediate end to armed violence in Papua, following reports of civilian casualties linked to a recent Indonesian military operation in Lanny Jaya Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.
Munafrizal Manan, Director General of Human Rights Services and Compliance at the ministry, warned that continued armed confrontations would only deepen instability.
“Armed violence will only worsen the situation and create an endless cycle of conflict,” Manan said on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.
He stressed that civilians are consistently the most affected in Papua’s ongoing conflicts. “These incidents often trigger waves of displacement among unarmed communities,” he noted in a written statement.
The clashes in Lanny Jaya underscore this pattern. According to Manan, thousands of residents were forced to flee their homes and seek mass refuge, while at least two civilians were reported missing after the violence.
Manan urged all parties to abandon what he described as a “militaristic paradigm” and shift toward solutions rooted in dialogue and humanitarian principles.
“A conflict-resolution approach based on communication and humanity must replace armed confrontation,” he said.
Local media outlet Jubi.id earlier reported that a military operation took place on October 5, 2025, in Yigemili Village, Melagi District, Lanny Jaya. The incident left two civilians missing and prompted more than 2,300 people to flee their communities.
Theo Hesegem, Executive Director of the Papua Human Rights and Justice Foundation (YKKMP), said troops launched the operation without warning as residents were preparing to attend church. “Helicopters fired at plantation and residential areas,” he said on November 10, 2025.
YKKMP documented extensive damage, recording 28 homes severely destroyed, 25 of them traditional honai houses. Social activities, including schools, health services, and local economic activity, were also brought to a halt.
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